LIVE | Delhi court sends Kejriwal to ED custody till March 28
The central agency said Kejriwal was the ‘kingpin’ of the scam and was directly involved in use of proceeds of crime in AAP's Goa election campaign in 2022
A Delhi court on Friday (March 22) sent Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal to ED custody till March 28.
The Enforcement Directorate, seeking his 10-day custody, earlier said Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal was a "key conspirator" in the liquor scam case along with other ministers and AAP leaders, as it sought his 10-day custody from a court in New Delhi.
The ED told Special Judge Kaveri Baweja at the Rouse Avenue court that Kejriwal received several crores of rupees as kickbacks from the 'South group' for formulating and implementing Delhi Excise Policy 2021-22.
He demanded Rs 100 crore from some accused from 'South group' for contesting the Punjab elections, Additional Solicitor General (ASG) SV Raju, who is appearing for the agency, told the court.
The law officer said the money trail showed that Rs 45 crore "kickback" used in Goa elections came from four hawala routes.
He said the statements of the accused and witnesses have been corroborated by Call Detail Records (CDR).
ASG SV Raju is appearing for the agency, while Senior Advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi is representing Kejriwal.
Kejriwal was produced in the trial court shortly after he withdrew from the Supreme Court his plea against arrest by the Enforcement Directorate in the excise policy-linked money laundering case.
Kejriwal's counsel said he would contest the remand proceedings before the trial court and then come back to the apex court with another petition.
Plea withdrawn
Earlier, Kejriwal withdrew from Supreme Court his plea against arrest by the Enforcement Directorate (ED).
Senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, appearing for Kejriwal, told the Supreme Court that Kejriwal was withdrawing the petition as it was clashing with the remand. Singhvi said he would file a fresh plea with the Court Registry, challenging the remand.
A three-judge bench of the Supreme Court was on Friday set to hear Kejriwal’s plea against his arrest by the ED in an excise policy-linked money-laundering case.
Kejriwal had moved the Supreme Court late Thursday after the ED arrested him and took him to the agency's headquarters.
What happened on Thursday
The arrest, the first of a sitting chief minister, came hours after the Delhi High Court refused to protect the AAP national convenor from any coercive action by the agency.
The 55-year-old leader's arrest, amid campaign for the Lok Sabha elections, drew angry reactions from his Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). The party said Kejriwal "will continue as the chief minister of Delhi. If need be, he will run the government from jail." The BJP though demanded that Kejriwal step down as chief minister on moral grounds.
The AAP has called nationwide protest on Friday against the arrest.
In a day of fast-paced developments, a 10-member ED team led by an additional director reached his official residence on Flagstaff Road in Civil Lines in the national capital soon after the high court order and carried out searches. He was arrested more than two hours after the ED team arrived at his residence, officials said.
They said the federal agency later took Kejriwal to its office in central Delhi. This is the 16th arrest in the case by the ED. Officials said the ED would produce the chief minister before a special court on Friday and seek his custody for interrogation in the case.
The ED has filed a total of six charge sheets in this case till now and attached assets worth over Rs 128 crore.
What ED says
The ED and the CBI had alleged that the Delhi government's excise policy to grant licenses to liquor traders allowed cartelization and favored certain dealers who had allegedly paid bribes for it, a charge strongly refuted by AAP. The policy was subsequently scrapped and Delhi Lieutenant Governor V K Saxena recommended a CBI probe into the irregularities in its formulation and implementation.
Kejriwal had skipped nine summonses issued by the agency for questioning in the case, the latest being for Thursday, March 21. He has called these summonses "illegal".
As the ED officials carried out their action inside, additional Delhi Police personnel and Rapid Action Force (RAF) and CRPF teams were deployed around the chief minister's residence.
Sources said that additional deployment was made as the ED sought extra security measures in anticipation of protests by AAP supporters.
Live Updates
- 22 March 2024 9:59 AM IST
Concerned for Kejriwal's safety: AAP
“As CM, he gets Z+ security cover. Now he is in the custody of the central ED agency. We are concerned for his safety and security,” said Atishi, Delhi Minister
- 22 March 2024 9:55 AM IST
Delhi Police beef up security anticipating AAP protest
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)’s call for a protest outside BJP’s headquarters in Delhi at 10 am on Friday (March 22) has led to the Delhi Police beefing up security in the city. The police have set up barricades on the roads leading to the BJP office. The traffic police have advised commuters to avoid roads leading to central Delhi. The ITO Metro Station will remain closed from 8 am to 6 pm on Friday.
- 22 March 2024 9:48 AM IST
Kejriwal to appear before Rouse Avenue Court
It is reported that Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal will be produced before the Rouse Avenue Courts following his arrest by the ED on Thursday (March 21), hours after a division bench of the Delhi High Court refused to pass orders granting him interim protection from arrest.
- 22 March 2024 9:33 AM IST
Kejriwal's arrest is BJP's political conspiracy: Delhi Minister Atishi
AAP leader and Delhi Minister Atishi said, "It is the first time that a sitting CM has been arrested by Central government. In the country's history, it is the first time that after the announcement of the Lok Sabha elections, the national convenor of a national party has been arrested. ARvind Kejriwal's arrest is BJP's political conspiracy."
- 22 March 2024 9:23 AM IST
Shocking & Condemnable!: Prashant Bhushan on Kejriwal's arrest
"It is ironic that the ED which has been involved in the extortion of money from corporates through electoral bonds for its BJP bosses & whose officers must be investigated and prosecuted, has arrested Kejriwal last night without a shred of documentary evidence against him, on the eve of elections. Shocking & Condemnable!", posted the activist lawyer Prashant Bhushan on X.
- 22 March 2024 9:16 AM IST
Kejriwal's arrest will give birth to mass movement: Akhilesh Yadav
Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav lashed out at the BJP after the arrest of Arvind Kejriwal and said it would lead to a "mass movement" (jan-andolan). In a post on X, he said that the BJP fears defeat in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections and hence is "trying to keep the Opposition leaders away from the public."
- 22 March 2024 7:20 AM IST
Lalu slams Modi govt
RJD president Lalu Prasad on Thursday slammed the Narendra Modi government at the Centre for the arrest of Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal by the ED.
The RJD supremo reacted to the arrest of the AAP chief in a Hindi post on X, claiming the BJP was “scared” since its ouster from power was “certain”.
“Gripped by the fear of defeat, the Modi government is in a state of fear. It has been tearing democracy to shreds and it will continue to do so till it lasts in power,” said Prasad, whose RJD, like AAP, is an INDIA bloc constituent.
- 22 March 2024 7:18 AM IST
Exposed real face of AAP: SAD leader
Shiromani Akali Dal leader Daljit Singh Cheema said the arrest of Kejriwal in a serious case of corruption by the ED has “exposed the real face of AAP”.
“The party which came to power by painting the whole political system as corrupt has surpassed all records of corruption in a record time,” said Cheema in a post.
- 22 March 2024 7:15 AM IST
Chandigarh Congress president condemns arrest
Chandigarh Congress president HS Lucky has condemned the arrest of Kejriwal.
“It is absolutely wrong and unconstitutional to target Kejriwal in this manner due to elections. Lowering the level of politics in this manner suits neither the Prime Minister nor his government,” Lucky said.
“Fight your critics in the electoral battlefield, confront them strongly, attack their policies and working style of course - this is democracy. But using the power of all the institutions of the country in this way to fulfil your political goals, weakening them by putting pressure is against every principle of democracy,” he alleged.
The AAP and the Congress fought the recent mayoral elections in Chandigarh in alliance.
- 22 March 2024 7:13 AM IST
AAP leaders in Punjab, Haryana condemn arrest
AAP leaders in Punjab and Haryana on Thursday slammed the BJP government for the arrest of Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal, alleging the “dictatorial regime was making a mockery of the constitutional norms”.
Earlier, Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann, in a post on X, said, “BJP’s political team ED, cannot imprison Kejriwal’s thinking…because only AAP can stop the BJP. Thinking can never be suppressed.”
Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema lambasted the BJP-led Union government for Kejriwal’s arrest.
“Today I strongly condemn the arrest of Arvind Kejriwal by ED. This dictatorial regime is making a mockery of constitutional norms and killing the spirit of democracy by destroying the opposition in every way. This shows the fear of BJP and today's action is the beginning of the end of BJP,” Cheema in a post on X.
AAP's Haryana unit president Sushil Gupta said, “This is a black day for democracy. The BJP is already trying to destroy the country’s democracy…. You have arrested him, how will you stop his ideology?” In a video which he posted on X, Gupta further said that the party’s Haryana unit has decided to gherao Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini’s Kurukshetra residence on Friday.
“This period is an undeclared emergency created by BJP. The party, scared of the INDIA alliance, is conspiring to stop Arvind Kejriwal. Pressure is being put on him to separate from the INDIA alliance, but BJP does not know that the entire country stands with Kejriwal. I am going to Delhi immediately..,” Gupta in a post on X.
Punjab Cabinet minister Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal alleged that the BJP was “punishing” Kejriwal for providing excellent schools, hospitals, free electricity and water to the poor and middle-class of Delhi.
“The public will answer…..you can arrest Kejriwal but how will you stop his thinking?” he said.
Another Punjab Minister Anmol Gagan Maan said BJP’s attempt to implicate Kejriwal in a “false case” was motivated by “dirty politics”. “Such a conspiracy against an honest leader is shameful. This is murder of democracy,” she said in a post on X.
AAP Punjab unit chief spokesperson Malvinder Singh Kang said Kejriwal’s arrest over “frivolous” Delhi’s liquor policy money laundering case is “watershed moment” in the political history of India.
“This could indeed be the last straw for the Modi government,” he said in a post on X.
